Brightwater Yoga introduces yogalates

Students take past in a class at Brightwater Yoga in Hendersonville Friday.

Patrick Sullivan/Times-News

By NANCY TANKERTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 17, 2014 at 6:22 p.m.

As Hendersonville resident Ellie Thrush arrives for her yogalates class at Brightwater Yoga on Main Street Friday, the fit and trim 81-year-old is all smiles.

“When I do yogalates, I feel relaxed and happy,” she said. “I feel centered and pleased that I know I'm working for the betterment of positions.”

Yogalates — a combination of yoga and Pilates — helps Thrush keep her energy up for her daily hiking routine.

“It's about balance and flexibility,” she said.

Brightwater Yoga owner Pam Foushee started offering weekly yogalates classes in early January and Friday's class had about a dozen participants, ranging in age from what appeared to be mid-40s to Thrush in her '80s.

Foushee has studied yoga for about five years and was a yoga student at Brightwater before becoming its owner.

“I fell in love with the space and the original owner, Leigh Ann Mertens, so I purchased the business in May,” she explained.

Since then, she has introduced laughter yoga and yogalates, and in February she'll hold a partners yoga class for couples. On the first Friday in February, she's offering a free yogalates class for those who want to try it. Brightwater also offers massage services.

The yogalates instructor is Lynn Edgar, a certified yoga therapist at the 500-hour level who has been teaching yogalates for 12 years. She teaches in several places around Hendersonville and also offers private lessons.

“Yoga is an Eastern tradition that joins mind and body,” she explained. “Pilates is a method of physical and mental conditioning. Pilates was a German man who was born a sickly kid and he worked on his own health.” Once he discovered what helped his body improve, “he wanted to share the method of Pilates. He brought it to this country in the 1920s.”

Edgar said she loves both yoga and Pilates, so she enjoys teaching yogalates.

“There's a synergy between them. They're both an art and a subtle science,” she said. “Both focus on correct breathing, correct alignment and mindfulness.”

Mindfulness is important, she added. “Our heads are always ruminating on the past or jumping ahead to the future. It's a treat to get 90 minutes to focus on your breath and your body in the present moment.”

Edgar gives extra attention to “making yogalates accessible to every body. That's two words — every body. It's beneficial for people with restricted movements as well as elite athletes.”

She's had an 11-year-old and an 82-year-old in her class. She's taught people with hip replacements and others who are in tip-top shape.

As the class progressed Friday, Edgar walked the room, helping various students adjust their movements and suggesting alternate movements for those with injuries or feeling discomfort in a certain position.

Giving slow directions while soft music played in the background, she had her students focus on their breathing. “Breath is the bridge between the inner and outer world,” she said. “Slowly lengthen and deepen your breath.”

Judy Bishop of Hendersonville, who has been practicing yoga for 10 years and Pilates for two, said she likes the yogalates combination. The movements might be slow and deliberate, but in the end “It energizes you. By working on my strength and balance I can do the other activities I like to do. I hike, I walk 3 miles every morning, I ride horses and hang glide. I like to take active vacations with activities like parasailing.

“Yogalates keeps me in shape so I can do that. I'm going to be 67 this year. After a yogalates class, I have energy for the rest of the day and evening.”

Charles Brady, 73, of Hendersonville enjoys taking yogalates classes with his wife, Adrienne, 66. The two retirees have taken classes at the YMCA, also taught by Edgar, but on Friday they were at Brightwater.

Yogalates “works your core better” than yoga and is a little more strenuous, Charles said. When the class is over, “I feel energized and I don't feel any stress or strain.” The exercise helps him stay strong for yard work and hiking.

Adrienne added, “It helps me feel looser, and I can do more.” As the president of the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Four Seasons, Adrienne sais Yogalates “helps me deal with problems, because I'm mentally balanced.”

Brightwater Yoga is located at 506 ½ Main Street in Hendersonville. It is open seven days a week, but hours vary. Call 828-698-5557 for more information or visit www.brightwateryoga.com.

<p>As Hendersonville resident Ellie Thrush arrives for her yogalates class at Brightwater Yoga on Main Street Friday, the fit and trim 81-year-old is all smiles.</p><p>“When I do yogalates, I feel relaxed and happy,” she said. “I feel centered and pleased that I know I'm working for the betterment of positions.” </p><p>Yogalates — a combination of yoga and Pilates — helps Thrush keep her energy up for her daily hiking routine. </p><p>“It's about balance and flexibility,” she said.</p><p>Brightwater Yoga owner Pam Foushee started offering weekly yogalates classes in early January and Friday's class had about a dozen participants, ranging in age from what appeared to be mid-40s to Thrush in her '80s.</p><p>Foushee has studied yoga for about five years and was a yoga student at Brightwater before becoming its owner.</p><p>“I fell in love with the space and the original owner, Leigh Ann Mertens, so I purchased the business in May,” she explained. </p><p>Since then, she has introduced laughter yoga and yogalates, and in February she'll hold a partners yoga class for couples. On the first Friday in February, she's offering a free yogalates class for those who want to try it. Brightwater also offers massage services.</p><p>The yogalates instructor is Lynn Edgar, a certified yoga therapist at the 500-hour level who has been teaching yogalates for 12 years. She teaches in several places around Hendersonville and also offers private lessons. </p><p>“Yoga is an Eastern tradition that joins mind and body,” she explained. “Pilates is a method of physical and mental conditioning. Pilates was a German man who was born a sickly kid and he worked on his own health.” Once he discovered what helped his body improve, “he wanted to share the method of Pilates. He brought it to this country in the 1920s.”</p><p>Edgar said she loves both yoga and Pilates, so she enjoys teaching yogalates. </p><p>“There's a synergy between them. They're both an art and a subtle science,” she said. “Both focus on correct breathing, correct alignment and mindfulness.”</p><p>Mindfulness is important, she added. “Our heads are always ruminating on the past or jumping ahead to the future. It's a treat to get 90 minutes to focus on your breath and your body in the present moment.”</p><p>Edgar gives extra attention to “making yogalates accessible to every body. That's two words — every body. It's beneficial for people with restricted movements as well as elite athletes.” </p><p>She's had an 11-year-old and an 82-year-old in her class. She's taught people with hip replacements and others who are in tip-top shape.</p><p>As the class progressed Friday, Edgar walked the room, helping various students adjust their movements and suggesting alternate movements for those with injuries or feeling discomfort in a certain position.</p><p>Giving slow directions while soft music played in the background, she had her students focus on their breathing. “Breath is the bridge between the inner and outer world,” she said. “Slowly lengthen and deepen your breath.”</p><p>Judy Bishop of Hendersonville, who has been practicing yoga for 10 years and Pilates for two, said she likes the yogalates combination. The movements might be slow and deliberate, but in the end “It energizes you. By working on my strength and balance I can do the other activities I like to do. I hike, I walk 3 miles every morning, I ride horses and hang glide. I like to take active vacations with activities like parasailing. </p><p>“Yogalates keeps me in shape so I can do that. I'm going to be 67 this year. After a yogalates class, I have energy for the rest of the day and evening.”</p><p>Charles Brady, 73, of Hendersonville enjoys taking yogalates classes with his wife, Adrienne, 66. The two retirees have taken classes at the YMCA, also taught by Edgar, but on Friday they were at Brightwater. </p><p>Yogalates “works your core better” than yoga and is a little more strenuous, Charles said. When the class is over, “I feel energized and I don't feel any stress or strain.” The exercise helps him stay strong for yard work and hiking.</p><p>Adrienne added, “It helps me feel looser, and I can do more.” As the president of the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Four Seasons, Adrienne sais Yogalates “helps me deal with problems, because I'm mentally balanced.”</p><p>Brightwater Yoga is located at 506 ½ Main Street in Hendersonville. It is open seven days a week, but hours vary. Call 828-698-5557 for more information or visit www.brightwateryoga.com.</p><p>Reach Tanker at 828-694-7871 or nancy.tanker@blueridgenow.com.</p>